Italian ship Enrica Lexie to depart tomorrow?

Kochi: The departure of Italian vessel Enrica Lexie, detained off Kerala coast after two Indian fishermen were shot by its marines on February 15, is likely to take place on Saryrday as the ship`s owner failed to complete the necessary formalities today.

The vessel`s owner Pio Shiano, also managing director of Dolphin Tankers Ltd, was unable to execute a bond of Rs 3 crore as surety today before the Kerala High Court Registrar General as they could not get the certified copy of the May 2 Supreme Court order in this regard.

While allowing the vessel to leave along with its four marines and six crew members, the apex court had directed its owner to execute a surety of Rs 3 crore before the Registrar General.

"We have not yet received the certified copy. We are getting it today evening. Once formalities are completed, we will get a clearance tomorrow for the ship to leave. Hopefully, tomorrow it will be completed," Shiano told reporters.

Asked about the loss due to the detention of the vessel since February 15, he said this was not the time to talk of loss as two lives have been lost.